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Tokyo Mushroom Trip

Tuesday, February 12th, 2008 – running time 02:19
Japanese youth are already a little odd. But when they trip on mushrooms, all bets are off.

Surprise, today’s Lil' Internet Superstar is a little weird. Actually, he's a lot weird, and I’m glad he lives overseas. I found him in YouTube video appropriately titled,Dancing man wearing a horse mask cooks wild mushrooms

And, to be honest, I’m not sure why I find it so utterly compelling. Perhaps it’s the luridness of the poor lighting and grainy bad porn video quality. Or maybe it’s the over-the-shoulder loincloth. But I can’t overlook the spell-binding power of the creepy horse mask.

Or, for that matter, the King Crimson meets Ray Manzarek on acid dueling with our dark lord Satan for their very souls in the accompanying soundtrack.

But, between us, I think it’s the horse mask.

And I also I think it’s pretty clear that the wild mushrooms this Japanese dude is picking and cooking while he dances in his gas mask loincloth are not the type that are solely sought after to add a smoky earthiness to the back of your palate.

No, it’s pretty clear that these mushrooms are of the magical variety – which explains the truckload of gleeful oddness that seems to unravel on our screens like we are tripped out flies on the wall of this nameless Tokyo apartment. Mute and drop-jawed witnesses to something awful? Or is it beautiful?

Trust me, I know, when it comes to certain customs and behaviors in other cultures that you don’t understand that well, it’s dangerous to judge…but, I’m guessing that this kid is one thing and one thing only anywhere in the world…a unapologetic weirdo.

And because of that, he’s also an Internet Superstar. Dance on, my friend, and save a wild mushroom for me.

Have a nomination for an Internet Superstar? Send them to martin at revision3 dot com. Thanks for watching and we’ll see you tomorrow.